Dear Aleena, Yara, Lila, and Kaia,
Recently, you have started watching more movies. Home Alone is a current favorite for all of you. One of my favorite movies is Glory which stars Denzel Washington — one of my favorite actors. He once said “Without commitment, you will never start. More importantly, without consistency, you will never finish.”
In this letter, I want to talk about consistency — it’s benefits and how you can implement it in your life.
- Enhanced productivity and efficiency. Consistency breeds a sense of discipline and routine. When you consistently engage in specific tasks or activities, you create a structured framework that optimizes your time and energy. This predictability allows your mind and body to adapt and function more efficiently. Over time, you become adept at managing your tasks, leading to increased productivity. By consistently allocating time for essential activities, you’re less likely to waste time on decision-making or procrastination, resulting in a higher overall output.
- Progress and growth. Consistency is the cornerstone of growth and progress. Whether you’re learning a new skill, pursuing a hobby, or working towards personal or professional goals, regular practice and engagement are crucial. Consistent effort leads to incremental improvements in the short-run, but those improvements add-up and over time lead to a transformational change. This is true whether you’re learning a language, mastering an instrument, building a business, or even working on your physical fitness. Each small step taken consistently contributes to a larger stride forward, ultimately propelling you towards success.
- Improved mental and emotional well-being. A structured routine can have a significant positive impact on your mental and emotional well-being. Knowing what to expect and having a sense of control over your day reduces feelings of uncertainty and stress. When you consistently engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation, such as exercise, meditation, or spending quality time with loved ones, you enhance your overall sense of contentment.
So, how do you practice consistency? Here are three ideas you can try:
- Rise and shine. Come up with a practice that you can easily do every morning. It could be as simple as sitting in your bed and spending 5 minutes to reflect on three things you are thankful for. This simple practice of gratitude cultivates a positive mindset, infusing your day with an appreciative outlook. Another easy morning practice is to make your bed. This gives you a sense of accomplishment as you begin your day. That is why I make my bed every morning.
- Get better every day. Dedicate a consistent time each day for reading, learning a new skill, or engaging in personal development activities, even if it is just 10 minutes a day. Doing something every day, over the duration of years, will have a compounding impact on your development. How you live day to day is how you live your life. Two years ago, I started running and now, I run 30 minutes, at least 5 days a week. I have consistently gotten faster and stronger through this simple activity.
- Leave no doubt. As I mentioned above, consistency is about practice and repetition. If you want to pursue academic excellence, you must consistently put in the time to study, do homework, perform research. If you want to improve your skills in a sport, you will practice continuously, go to the gym, and compete in a league. You will inevitably fail at times — you might not do well in an exam or miss a scoring opportunity. You will also have successes such as acing a test or scoring the winning goal. Don’t let doubt creep in when you fail and don’t overdo celebration when you succeed. Remember that whether you succeed or fail today, tomorrow requires that you get up and do it again. Focus on the process and not the result. This has been very hard for me. My instinct is to get emotionally connected to the result. It’s a constant battle within myself to invest in the process and not the results.
Your pursuit of excellence demands consistent, deliberate practices. Be it acquiring a new skill or mastering a craft, daily commitment fuels your progress. Consistency is not the imposition of rigidity, but a compass guiding you toward self-realization. It is the cumulative effort of purposeful actions that will mold your existence into a meaningful one.
I look forward to seeing what practices you develop as you get older.
The letters from the past 10 years:
Better to do right than be right (2022)
What if you didn’t need a vacation from life? (2021)
Hypocrisy and Inaction — May you avoid our mistakes (2020)
The Fog-of-Life and Your Path Ahead (2019)
A Father’s Take on Meaning of Home (2018)
An Immigrant Father’s Letter to His Kids (2016)
Startup CEO’s Advice to His Daughters (2015)
3 Things to Think About When Giving Back (2014)
5 Lessons from a New Dad to the Youngest Philanthropist (2013)
